Shinjuku's Robot Restaurant

The self-proclaimed "most awesome" place in the world

Anne Lauenroth Dec 24, 2015 - 1 min read

<p><span style="line-height: 20.8px;">A drummer accompanying the marching band on a float</span></p>

<p>Entrance area of the Robot Restaurant in Shinjuku's Kabukicho district</p>

<p>Entrance area of the Robot Restaurant - the decorations are already quite extravagant</p>

<p>The elevator, as we have to go all the way down to the basement</p>

<p>The stairs are also dripping with gold and glitter</p>

<p>The main stage area, with the audience waiting for the performance to begin</p>

<p>Musicians and dancers enter on giant floats</p>

<p><span style="line-height: 20.8px;">A wild-haired performer</span></p>

<p>After every part of the performance, there's a short break, either featuring more dancing or some time to buy more drinks and snacks</p>

<p>Time for the "robots vs. monsters" act to begin (this robot clearly lost)</p>

<p>Giant mechanical dinosaur fighting against robots</p>

<p>Giant robot attacking with laser beams</p>

<p>Colorfully illuminated wall, often used to establish the story behind the fighting (yes, there's a story about space robot invaders attacking a peaceful paradise full of innocent girls wearing very little clothing)</p>

<p>A drummer accompanying the marching band on a float</p>

<p><span style="line-height: 20.8px;">The marching band</span></p>

<p>Vocal performers on another float</p>

<p><span style="line-height: 20.8px;">Vocal performers on another float</span></p>

<p>Time for the audience to take out their glowsticks</p>

<p>Giant robot, moonlighting as a fog machine</p>

<p>Time for the cabaret show and some more kicks</p>

<p>Almost time for the final rounds of applause</p>

<p>Time to leave our seats and return to reality</p>

Notice

Temporarily closed until further notice due to coronavirus measures

Latest on Robot Restaurant

Going to Japan for the first time, everyone has certain expectations of the land of anime, geisha, tea ceremony, temples, futuristic architecture and samurai work ethics. Among these (possibly innocently clichéd) preconceptions is the notion of Japan being fascinated by and obsessed with robots.

If you happen to think robots are kind of (read: VERY) cool, be prepared to be gobsmacked in the best possible way, when female warriors wearing very little clothing battle giant robots on dinosaurs at the Robot Restaurant in Shinjuku's Kabukicho district.

Across several shows per day and night, prepare to leave behind any reservations and give in to the wonderfully campy, crazy, deafening, dazzling allure of the "most awesome" place in the world, where cabaret meets giant robots and mechanical sharks swallow evil space invaders.

Not suitable for small children because of the noise/sensory overload and those sensitive to flashing lights.

More info

Find out more about Robot Restaurant.

Anne Lauenroth @anne.lauenroth

German writer, translator and editor with a passion for travel, photography and all things Japanese. More about me and my work on www.allwordz.com and www.floating-worlds.com.